Development of severe sepsis is thought to result from the overproduction o
f cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleuki
n-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and nitric oxide. Recently, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary
l coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, which are antihypercholesterolemic agent
s, have been reported to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced productio
n of cytokines and nitric oxide in vitro. In this study, we tested these ef
fects in vivo. After LPS administration (15 mg/kg i.p.) to CD-1 mice, serum
levels of both TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta transiently increased, and peaked a
t 2 h. After the peak responses of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, serum levels of
nitrite and nitrate increased until at least 8 h. Pretreatment of the mice
with cerivastatin (20 mg/kg i.p. 12 and 1 h before LPS injection) reduced
serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta at 2 h, and nitrite and nitrate at
8 h, by 93, 60, and 44%, respectively. In this model of sepsis, cerivastati
n significantly (P = .016) improved the rate of 7-day survival from 26.7 to
73.3%. These results cast new light on the usefulness of cerivastatin in p
reventing severe sepsis.